Afrika
Text: Jan Bobek
Illustration: Antonis Karydis
Cat. No. 2112
The boxart for the June release Afrika features two aircraft in a mid-air encounter that, historically, could not have happened. Typically, when preparing boxart, we adhere closely to specific historical events. However, for Limited Edition kits, we sometimes work with the artist to create illustrations that are more symbolic than strictly historical.
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is one of the legendary aircraft of the Second World War. It saw combat and underwent continuous modifications from January 1937 through 1944. It is unclear whether its designers originally intended it to operate in the harsh conditions of North Africa, but when the need arose, they adapted it to the environment remarkably well. In short, the aircraft was equipped with a basic turbocharger intake filter and emergency survival gear.
In the spring of 1941, while preparing for the attack on the Soviet Union, the Luftwaffe was also involved in operations against Yugoslavia and Greece, including the battle for Crete, and carried out raids on Malta. At the same time, British forces succeeded in capturing Tobruk after fighting against the Italians. During the spring months, Rommel's Afrikakorps was deployed to North Africa, and in April 1941 began the encirclement of Tobruk, which would not be broken until the end of the year during Operation Crusader.
The first Luftwaffe unit to arrive in Africa equipped with Bf 109 E-7 and E-7/N aircraft was I./JG 27, under the command of Major Eduard Neumann. By the end of April, the unit had successfully entered combat. Their primary opponents were twin-engine bombers and Hawker Hurricanes. These fighters, and later the Spitfires as well, were at a disadvantage compared to the various Bf 109 variants due to the large dust filter mounted beneath their engine cowlings.
In mid-1941, the second unit equipped with Bf 109s to arrive in Africa, somewhat unexpectedly, was 7./JG 26 "Schlageter," commanded by Oblt. Joachim Müncheberg. This unit was better known for its operations along the French coast. It arrived in Africa following an extended deployment against Malta and remained in combat on the continent until September. The other two components of JG 27 arrived in Africa later in the year, following their involvement in Operation Barbarossa. II./JG 27 joined the fighting in September, and III./JG 27 followed in December. Both units were already equipped with the Bf 109 F-4/trop variant. I./JG 27 began converting to this version in November.
By the end of the year, one of the most successful fighter pilots in Africa was Lt. Hans-Joachim Marseille of 3./JG 27, with 36 confirmed victories. The same number of kills was credited to his commander, Oblt. Gerhard Homuth, as well as to the commander of 1./JG 27, Hptm. Wolfgang Redlich.
At the beginning of 1942, Axis forces succeeded in pushing the Allies back to Gazala, and in June, Tobruk once again fell into Axis hands. Around this time, III./JG 53 "Pik As" arrived on the African front, equipped with Bf 109 F-4/trop aircraft.
In July 1942, the Allies managed to halt the Axis advance into Egypt at the First Battle of El Alamein. Then, in late October and early November, during the Second Battle of El Alamein, the British Eighth Army forced the Axis forces to retreat westward. During this critical period, Luftwaffe units were reinforced with II./JG 51, II./JG 53 "Pik As," and I. and III./JG 77 "Herz As," all equipped with the Bf 109 G-2/trop variant. In November 1942, I./JG 27 was withdrawn from Africa.
After the Allied landings in North Africa, Axis forces were forced to fight on two fronts. In early 1943, II./JG 77 was transferred to Africa. Following the Axis victory at the Battle of Kasserine Pass in February 1943, the Allies regrouped and launched a final offensive against Axis forces in Tunisia. At this point, the Axis supply situation on the African mainland had become critical. Convoys and transport aircraft were repeatedly targeted by devastating Allied attacks. Sicily was also coming under increasing Allied air raids.
Luftwaffe units began to evacuate gradually to Sicily, in some cases defying orders from the German high command not to retreat from Tunisia. Several Jagdgeschwader commanders suspected that, with surrender imminent, many valuable ground personnel would have no chance of evacuation. As a result, they chose to risk court martial by evacuating their men—some airmen and mechanics were flown to Sicily by their comrades, crammed into the fuselages of Bf 109s. The surrender of Axis forces in Tunisia on May 13, 1943, marked the end of this chapter of the war. However, during its deployment in these extreme conditions, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 proved to be a highly adaptable fighter, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy throughout the fast-moving North African campaign.